Proverbs 16

² All the works of the humble man are manifest with God;

but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.

⁵ Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God,

and he that unjustly striketh hands with hand shall not be held guiltless.

⁷ The beginning of a good way is to do justly;

and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices.

⁸ He that seeketh the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness:

and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.

⁹ All the works of the Lord are done with righteousness;

and the ungodly man is kept for the evil day.

¹⁰ There is an oracle upon the lips of a king;

and his mouth shall not err in judgment.

¹¹ The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord;

and his works are righteous measures.

¹² An evil-doer is an abomination to a king;

for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are acceptable to a king;

and he loveth right words.

¹⁴ The anger of a king is a messenger of death;

but a wise man will pacify him.

¹⁵ The son of a king is in the light of life;

and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.

¹⁶ The ^[1]brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold,

and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.

¹⁷ The paths of life turn aside from evil;

and the ways of righteousness are length of life.

He that receiveth instruction shall be in prosperity;

and he that regardeth reproofs shall be made wise.

He that keepeth his ways, preserveth his own soul;

and he that loveth his life will spare his mouth.

¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction,

and folly before a fall.

¹⁹ Better is a meek-spirited man with ^[2]lowliness,

than one who divideth spoils with the proud.

²⁰ He who is skilful in business findeth good:

but he that trusteth in God is most blessed.

²¹ Men call the wise and understanding evil:

but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.

²² Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors;

but the instruction of fools is evil.

²³ The heart of the wise will discern the things which proceed from his own mouth;

and on his lips he will wear knowledge.

²⁴ Good words are honeycombs,

and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.

²⁵ There are ways that seem to be right to a man,

but the end of them looketh to the depth of hell.

²⁶ A man who laboureth, laboureth for himself, and driveth from him his own ruin.

²⁷ But the perverse beareth destruction upon his own mouth:

a foolish man diggeth up evil for himself,

and treasureth fire on his own lips.

²⁸ A perverse man spreadeth mischief,

and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separateth friends.

²⁹ A transgressor trieth to ensnare friends,

and leadeth them in ways that are not good.

³⁰ And the man that fixeth his eyes deviseth perverse things,

and marketh out with his lips all evils:

he is a furnace of wickedness.

³¹ Old age is a crown of ^[3]honour,

but it is found in the ways of righteousness.

³² A man slow to anger is better than a strong man;

and he that governeth his temper better than he that taketh a city.

³³ All evils come upon the ungodly into their bosoms;

but all righteous things come of the Lord.

Notes

16:16 brood of wisdom is: or, abodes of wisdom are. Compare Heb. See Luke 13:34 ↩
16:19 lowliness: or, affliction ↩
16:31 honour: Gr. boasting ↩